TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court will publicly reprimand two county judges in separate ethics cases.
The justices Thursday ordered the reprimands for Volusia County Judge Mary Jane Henderson and Charlotte County Judge Peter A. Bell. Both undermined public trust of the courts and expressed remorse.
Henderson helped a drug defendant lease an apartment, lent him $4,000 for a truck and bought him a cell phone.
Bell ordered a domestic abuse victim arrested at a hearing for her ex-husband. Bell, who had known the couple, claimed police and prosecutors were biased in arresting only the ex-husband.
Ground search suspended for missing 4-year-old
TAMPA — The search for evidence in the cold case of a missing 4-year-old girl at a property in southwest Florida has been suspended.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office began digging Tuesday afternoon using sophisticated ground penetrating radar near a home in Punta Gorda, 75 miles south of Tampa. Sheriff Bill Cameron said Thursday they did not find any human remains, but they did recover some items for evidence.
Pilar Rodriguez disappeared in 1999, when a young baby sitter , Melissa Cooper, took her on vacation for two weeks. The child was never returned.
Cooper’s mother has said her daughter claims the girl was fatally beaten by her boyfriend, Keith Allen Wilson, who has denied any involvement.
Sister of teen set on fire finds dolls charred
DEERFIELD BEACH — The sister of a South Florida teen who was set on fire found two charred dolls floating in the pool in her backyard.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday that the backyard gate of 22-year-old Melissa Durkee’s Deerfield Beach home was found open with the two toy dolls floating in the pool. The dolls were burnt and joined together heads to feet.
The dolls belonged to her daughters, who had left them outside.
No arrests have been made.
NRA wants to prohibit gun questions for adoptions
MIAMI — The National Rifle Association wants Florida lawmakers to ban adoption agencies from asking would-be parents if they own guns.
The advocacy group says the questions are invasive and amount to creating an illegal gun registry.
The Department of Children & Families says some of the state’s adoption forms ask about guns, but others don’t.
State Sen. Thad Allen will introduce a bill to ban the practice. The Melbourne Republican got involved after two constituents complained when they tried to adopt a child.
NRA critics say the questions are valid.
— Herald wire services
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